The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1887-03-26
HE YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN
ASSOCIATION.

1t is the duty of both the religious and
secular press to discuss every organization
having for its object the incubation of
religion and morality, and prominent
among these is the Young Mems Chris.
tian Association. The young men of the
country know not the wild beasts waiting
for them, but the wild beasts know them,
and this association has saved as many
young men from the devouring monsters
as the regular church organizations.
The Young Mems Christian Associate n
of Memphis is in a most flourishing cons
dition, and it is doing incalculable good.
1t furnishes safe resort for relaxation
and instructing the mind and inculcating
morality. Heretofore, young men have
been disposed to leave the matter of
religion to older minds. But since their
association has become a power in the
land, youngi Christians, like young poll
ticians, have moved to the front, and
now the most effective religious work is
done by young men whose nature it is
to feel that what is to he done must be
instantly, zealously and with irresistible
energy. The Young Mems Christian
Association was first organized in Lon
don in 1914 George Williams called
together little company of his fellow
clerks and formed an association tor
mental and moral improvement and
refined social intercourse. He little
thought what grand enterprise would
grow out of the good work begun under
uch unfavolable auspices. But there
was in this organization the principles
that we're destined to spread over the
civilized world. Similar associations
sprang up in England and on the cont"
nent and seven years after George VIII"
iams' meeting in London the first Young
Mems Christian Association on this side
of the Atlantic was organized in Montrea'
In 1875 there were in Canada and the
United States only 500 associations, with
only COOL members Twelve years
later, In 1887, there are 1860 associations,
with 1876, 900 members, and holding prop
erty valued at $5 100000, while 34u0
,ssociations Join together in one common
cause the young men of all the Christian
nations OF the world, In New York
state alone there are now 1870 associations
with field work embracing all the cities
aud many of the larger towns and
villages. The continual and increasing
success of these associations is largely due
10 the fact that great part OF thel
work is in field which no church o'
moral organization has thus far been able
70 reach successfully. They aim to be.
and are the intermediate agents between
the church and young men. There was
a time when these associations were
looked upon as rivals OF the church, but
that time has passed, and now thtiI
labors are regarded as auxiliary churcl
work. The leaders in all the Young
Mems Christian Associations are gener>
ally active, untiring members of church
organizations, and each day strengthens
the bonds which bind together these tw
great agents for good. There can be no
stronger Endorsement of the Young Menu
Christian Association than the prompt
and generous response always given their
appeals for financial aid. The organiz.-
ton is now firmly established in thit
country, and can lay its plans confident
Of unwavering support in the future, and
in that fact every citizen having the
good of the people at heart will rejoice
Memphis Appeal.